Becoming a Faith Community Nurse or Health Minister

Like most specialties, training specifically designed for health ministry is necessary to understand the focus and tasks of the ministry, and courses for both faith community nurses and health ministers are available in many locations throughout the United States and internationally.

Foundations of Faith Community Nursing is a 36.5-hour course focusing on the entry-level knowledge necessary for faith community nursing practice, and fulfills the educational requirement for entry into practice in faith community nursing. Areas of focus within the course include spirituality, professionalism, wholistic health, and community.

While the Foundations of Faith Community Nursing course is offered throughout the year, both online and at locations throughout the country, Pacific Lutheran University, in partnership with Virginia Mason Franciscan Health Congregational Health Ministries and Health Ministries Network, provides the Foundations course annually here in the Puget Sound region. The Franciscan Foundation provides the Jean Vanberg Faith Community Nurse Scholarship to help committed individuals fund the Foundations of Faith Community Nursing or Health Minister Certification course. For additional information about scholarship eligibility and to receive a scholarship application packet, please contact our Congregational Health Ministries Coordinator at [email protected].

Like the Foundations of Faith Community Nursing course, there are many Health Minister Certification courses offered in a variety of formats. Virginia Mason Franciscan Health Congregational Health Ministries partners with Pacific Lutheran University and Wesley Theological Seminary in their annual courses, and committed individuals wishing to join our Network and build a health ministry within their faith community may be eligible for the Jean Vanberg Faith Community Nurse Scholarship to help fund the cost of the course.